Tailored Living vs The Designery
Tailored Living vs The Designery: Tailored Living costs $68K to $537K to open; The Designery costs $50K to $454K. Tailored Living has 26 units, The Designery has 7. SBA loan history: Tailored Living = 30 loans (10.0% default); The Designery = 13 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Tailored Living vs The Designery: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
The Designery requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $68K for Tailored Living), a 36% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Tailored Living operates 26 units to The Designery's 7, roughly 4× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Tailored Living has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 30 7(a) approvals compared with 13 for The Designery. Tailored Living's peak SBA year was 2022 (8 loans); The Designery's peak was 2025 (9 loans). The Designery's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Tailored Living has the most SBA funded units in CT, with 3. The Designery leads in TX, with 3. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Tailored Living deals is $221K vs $274K for The Designery, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 10.0% for Tailored Living and 0.0% for The Designery, The Designery has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 34 (Fair) for Tailored Living and 66 (Strong) for The Designery, giving The Designery the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 34/100 | 66/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 30 | 13 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 10.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $68K to $537K | $50K to $454K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $55K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 1% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 26 | 7 |
Franchised Units | 26 | 7 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 2007 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL | Huntersville, NC |
Category | Finish Carpentry Contractors | Finish Carpentry Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Tailored Living or The Designery?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Tailored Living: $68K starting · The Designery: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Tailored Living
Tailored Living: 30 SBA loans · The Designery: 13 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The Designery
Tailored Living: 10.0% · The Designery: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Tailored Living: 26 units · The Designery: 7 units
More lender financing options
Tailored Living
Tailored Living: 14 unique lenders · The Designery: 3 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
Need Funding for Tailored Living or The Designery?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Tailored Living vs The Designery: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Tailored Living and The Designery is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $537K.
Tailored Living has 30 SBA loans on record and The Designery has 13. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Tailored Living vs The Designery, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Tailored Living or The Designery?
How much does a Tailored Living franchise cost compared to The Designery?
Can I finance Tailored Living or The Designery with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Tailored Living or The Designery?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman